Spring lock panel receptacle



Sept. 9, 1947.

H. HUBKBELL ErAL SPRING LOCK PANEL REGEPTACL'E Filed Oct; '7, 1943 suv \\\(///4////4 13MLimmagini, LL

Patented Sept. 9, 1947 UNITED ",.STATES `P.AIIEZNl y-(lilifl'i15C-*E SPRING ISO'CK` PANEL LREGEPTACL'E fHarveyrHubbell, Long Hill, and JosephjEgHealy, AJr., Bridgeport, Conn., assignors 'to .Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, Bridgeport, onn., a corporation of Connecticut Application october 7, 194s, fserial--Nmsoafais 7 Claims'. .-1 VThis .invention relates to fa :panel .--receptacle `for; connection iadaptedzto be mounted onfapanel "sand :to .receive 2a :pin or plug iconnecte'ditora iconv'ductor for .lead 'wire `for izconnecting fit 'i to :and

:disconnecting it ifrom :a (conductor 'permanently connected with the receptacle, and has for an object :to provide I"such ia `receptacle which 'will be simple and effective in-'construction and in whichzthegpin 4connectedavithethe.conductor.may tbe quickly `.inserted :rand :i-tenioved, :bu-t which -after beingrinsertedrinzthes'receptaxcle--is fsnbstan- 'ftiallyg locked: thereinso fthat ,it .Wll; not-be withi the accompanying :drawing 4forming a :part @of this'speciiication It is, however, #to-.be underfstood fthe -device :is :not :limited Ato '--the specic construction Aand arrangement shown Aebut -may iinclnde various'changes:andimodiiications With'- 'in-the fscopefzof the invention.

In f'this drawing:

AxFig. l'gsia 4longtuidinal section through :fthe receptacle mounted in positioni-n the, pa-neleshowing the 'pin on the fend-of thezconductor to be rconnected' frthereto -fa-bout `to be inserted `in fthe .receptacle `Fig. 2 isa similarsection shoWing-.thepinfinserted I in,V position 'in the receptacle;

'.-lig v'3 -is.;a:side @elevation fof the contact z and gripping zmeans within :the receptacle;

.Fig 4 is a transverse lfsection substantially `,on the line 'f4-4 of Fig. :3-on anienlalgedfscale.;

Fig. 5 iis fa `similar section showing athe confductor pin inserted;

Fig. 61is a1 sidef elevation offthe insulating `sleeve or body for enclosing the Vreceptacle contact;

Fig. 7:is .fan end vew'thereo Aand Fig. '8, is va transverse sectionfsubstant-iallyzon the line 113-18 of Fig.' 6.

The receptacle isfshovvnras mounted: in apanel `Il! of .insulating :or Vother imateri'al, this :panel .beingprovidedwithfa transversev opening or .pas- "sage I'iztherethrough .in which the receptacle fis mounted. This Vreceptacle comprises-a `body or sleeve lf2 of finsulating ymaterial extending through V.the openingfnr passage -H andzprovided with ian fienlarged :head .llt engaging one .f side of `the'panel. .The;bodyfportion is ,threadedasdn- :dicated .at ril-4 to .receive a rnut Al5 connected -.to

.thistbody.atltheopposite side ,of thepanel `to `clamp thereceptacle lin position in'the `p'avnel. .Toia'cilit'ate assembly the 'sleeve'.orbody, I2 is fsplitlongitudinally asindi'cat'ed at I'Gsothat it .is divided into two separable sections :and on' its .interior isprovidedwitha chamberl 'l preferably `'nonc'ircular in cross .sectionga's indicatediin `Fig. i8, so thatithasxat y'sides i8. This chamber is closed at jitsop'posite ends Lbyendfwall .I9gp1ovided with anppeninjg "2 I `fo'rgpa'ssage `of the *conductor 22 and a `vvlalll*provided With'an opening 24 vfor passageof aplug-inpin 25o'n aconductor 26 connected with: any "suitable .electrical device desired to. be connected Witht'hereceptacle.

VThe conductor 22 may haveconnected to i't a .lead .2-1 connected ',to any source ofjcurrent Yor electrical device or wiring system as desired. At its inner end the `conductor22 is reduced'somewhatasshown at,.28 andextends through an opening in theend Wall '.29 of 'a .longitudinally split metal sleeve'30. This 'is a spring sleeve preferably made of spring brass "orA bronze and is provided on `its -opposite sides with :substantially Wide sl'o'ts T31., 4and at .the opposite'endrom the lead2'2 "is reduced in diameter togprovide flanges 32 to engage and grip thepin "25 when it'is inserted in vlthe receptacle nto make-good v.electrical contact therewith. This'zsleevefb"encloses 'a 'coil spring 33 embracing the reduced portion 28 of 1 the conductor 22 tightly gripping' the same, "and both-.this end portion .lof the 'spring 33 l and the inturned end "29 orf the V'sleevei'il are soldered to the .conductor22, asindicated Yat 34 and'3`5, so as tmpermanently connect them vtothe :conductor and alsoprovide agood electrical connection.

'The spring S33 ispreferably of good electrical ,conducting material, such for 4exampleas bronze spring Wire and is .so .Wound that its internal diameter Lis somewhat 4less than the .external diameter lof.the,pin 25 so 'that Whe'nthe pin .25 .fis insertedin the spring the vspring is expanded .somewhat bythe Y pin .and tends to contract to rmlygrip the pin. Tolli'mit vturning movements of .thegfree end Aof the spring Within the sleeve .3.0 its Qfreeend "is .turned .outwardly as indicated v'atr vto .extend into one of the .longitudinal `slots 3| .in the .side ofthe. sleeve '.3'0. Ifgreater .movementof the .turned-out end f3.6 lis desired .than .is permitted by the widthoitheslot 13 l the .oppositesdeedges-oi .thef-slo't maybe provided with .notches .31 and 38 Iadjacent the free lend-.of the .sleeve tofthusi-permit greater 2movement of .the .outturned .ende-6.

Y .-Thefspring 4may be Woundeither'rightor vvl'eftthand but -it 'fis z.preferab ly Wound .left handed from the receptacle.

3 as shown. When inserting the pin 25 if it is turned to the right or clockwise as it is pushed into the spring it will tend to unwind the coils of the spring 33, thus somewhat enlarging or expanding the spring so as to permit the pin 25 to slide longitudinally into the spring to the position shown in Fig. 2. As thepin is released by the operator and the turning action ceases the spring will tend to contract and iirmly grip the pin, and if a strain is placed on the lead or conductor 26 or the pin 25 tending to draw it straight out from the receptacle this will tend to stretch or elongate the spring longitudinally and this will tend to further contract the spring' to a smaller diameter so that it will grip the pin 25 more rmly. Therefore the greater the strain on the pin 25 the greater will be the gripping eifect on the pin, of course `up to a certain limit where the strain would Abe suflicient to withdraw the pin. It is preferred that the device be so designed that the .pin will be released before the strain is sufcient to break the lead or conductor 26 or break the elements of the receptacle, but it will be seen that with this construction the pin 25 is normally substantially locked in the receptacle against inadvertent withdrawal therefrom and against withdrawal by ordinary strain upon the lead 26. The reducedfree end wall of the sleeve 30 leading to the flanges 32 will limit the elongated or stretching movement of the spring so that it cannot be stretched sufficiently to collapse it, and the notches 31 and 38 will permit suflicient peripheral movement of the out-turned end 3S to allow sufficient radial expansion of the spring for insertion and removal of the pin 25, but will prevent turning of the spring sumciently to cause its collapse or set from normal size and position.

The entrance opening in the free end ofsleeve 30 between anges 32 is somewhat smaller" than the external diameter of Ipin 25 so that when the pin 25 is inserted through the open end of the sleeve 30 as it passes to the spring it will expand somewhat the reduced end of the sleeve 3l) thus separating somewhat the flanges 32 and the spring action of the sleeve 30 will cause these anges to grip the pin 25 and make good electrical contact therewith. c Therefore with this arrangement the entire current is not carried by the spring .33 between the inner end of the pin provides an auxiliary or supplemental conducting means from the pin 25 to the conductor 22, obviating the possibility that` the spring might be injured by overheating and also providing better electrical capacity and conductivity through the receptacle. The noncircular cross-sectional shape of the chamber i1 within the body or sleeve I2 conforms generally to the shape of the sleeve 30 so that this sleeve is held against turning movements within the body i2 due to turning movements of the pin 25, the side edges of the slots 3l engaging the flat walls i8 to prevent turning of the sleeve. The pin 25 maybe readily withdrawn from the receptacle when desired by merely turning it in the same direction or that is clockwise with a left-hand wound spring, and pulling outwardly at the same time on the pin. Turning the pin to the right or contrary to the direction the spring is wound tends to expand the spring radially the same as when inserting the pin, and as the spring expands it releases the pin so that it maybe readily withdrawn from the spring and If the spring were wound in the opposite direction or right-hand, then the is inserted therein so as to grip the pin.

pin 25 would be turned to the left or counterclockwise as it is inserted into or withdrawn from the spring to secure the enlarging or releasing action of the spring. As the body or sleeve I2 is made of two sections the assembled sleeve 30, spring 33 and conductor 22, as shown in Fig. 3, may be inserted in the portion of the chamber Il in one-half of the body and then the other half Placed in position to entirely enclose the sleeve 30, and then this assembly can be inserted in the opening Il in the panel and the nut l5 applied to clamp it in position.

It will be seen from the above the device is of very simple construction and may be easily and quickly mounted in any panel or similar device having an opening or passage therethrough of the desired size, and it will be firmly mounted in position; also that the pin 25 may be easily and quickly inserted into or removed from the receptacle to connect the conductor 25 to the conductor 22 or disconnect it therefrom, and that when the pin 25 is in position it is substantially locked against accidental withdrawal. The spring is-not necessarily of round Wire as shown, but it could be made of a at or other desired form of wire.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. A receptacle of the character described 'comprising a body of insulating materialv adapted to be mounted in a panel or similar support and provided With a longitudinally extending chamber noncircular in cross section, a substantially cylindrical coiled spring in the chamber, a spring metal sleeve enclosing the spring and of a cross section to cooperate with the walls of the chamber to be held against turning therein, a conductor extending through the body into the chamber and connected to one end of the sleeve and of Athe spring, said body being provided with an spring, the spring being adapted to be expanded by a pin of somewhat greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the spring when such a pin is inserted therein so as to grip the pin, and the free end of the sleeve being reduced so as to grip the pin.

2. A receptacle of the character described comprising a sleeve of insulating material adapted to be mounted in an opening in a panel or similar support, said sleeve being provided with a longitudinal chamber having opposite attened sides, a substantially cylindrical coiled spring in said chamber, a spring metal sleeve enclosing the spring provided with relatively wide longitudinal slots in opposite sides Whose edges cooperate with 'the flattened sides of the chamber to prevent turning movements of this latter sleeve therein, a conductor extending through one end of the rst sleeve and connected to the metal sleeve and the spring, the other end of the rst sleeve having an opening in alignment with the free ends of the metal sleeve and the spring for insertion of a substantially cylindrical conductor pin, and the spring and the free end of the metal sleeve being adapted to be expanded by a pin of somewhat greater external diameter-than the internal diameter of the spring when such a pin 3. A receptacle of the character described comprising a sleeve of insulating material adapted to be mounted in an opening in a panel or similar support and split longitudinally into two parts,

said sleeve being provided with a longitudinal chamber closed at its opposite ends by walls each having an opening therein, a substantially cylindrical coiled spring in the chamber in alignment with said openings, a longitudinally slit spring sleeve enclosing the spring and of greater diameter than the openings in the first sleeve, a conductor extending through one of said openings and connected to one end of each of the second sleeves and this spring, said other opening being adapted for insertion of a substantially cylindrical conductor pin into the free ends of the metal sleeve and the spring, and said spring and free end of the metal sleeve being adapted to be expanded by a Din of somewhat greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the spring when such a pin is inserted therein so as to grip the pin.

4. A receptacle of the character described comprising an insulating body member adapted to be mounted in an opening Ain a panel or similar support and provided with a longitudinal charnber, a substantially cylindrical coiled spring in said chamber, a spring metal sleeve enclosing the spring and provided with a substantially wide longitudinal slot in one side, a, conductor extending into the chamber and connected to one end of the metal sleeve and the spring, the free end of the spring being turned outwardly so as to extend into said slot and engage the opposite sides thereof to limit turning movements of the free end of the spring, said body having an opening in alignment with the free end of the spring for insertion of a conductor pin into the spring, and said spring being adapted to be expanded by a pin of somewhat greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the spring when such a pin is inserted therein so as to grip the pin.

5. A receptacle of the character described coniprising an insulating body member adapted to be mounted in a panel or similar support and provided with an internal chamber, a substantially cylindrical coiled spring in said chamber, a spring metal sleeve enclosing the spring, a conductor connected to the spring and the sleeve at one end, said body being provided with an opening in alignment with the free end of the spring leading to said chamber for insertion of a substantially cylindrical pin connected to another conductor, the spring being adapted to be expanded by a pin of somewhat greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the spring when such a pin is inserted therein so as to grip the pin, and means on the free end of the sleeve to grip the pin to provide electrical connection therewith.

6. A receptacle 0f the character described coinprising a sleeve of insulating material adapted to be mounted in an opening in a panel or similar support, said sleeve being provided with a head at one end to engage one side of the panel and being threaded at the other end for a nut to clamp it in the panel, said sleeve being provided with a longitudinal chamber, a substantially cylindrical coiled spring in said chamber, a longitudinally split spring metal sleeve enclosing the spring, a conductor passing through one end of the iirst sleeve and connected to the metal sleeve and the spring, said first sleeve being provided with an opening in its other end leading to said chamber in alignment with the end of the spring for insertion of a substantially cylindrical pin connected to another conductor, said spring being adapted to be expanded by a pin of somewhat greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the spring when such a pin is inserted therein so as to grip the pin, and said spring sleeve being provided with inturned anges at its free end to grip the pin.

'7. A receptacle of the character described comprising a sleeve of insulating material adapted to be mounted in an opening in a, panel or similar support, said sleeve being provided with a longitudinal chamber, a substantially cylindrical coiled spring in said chamber, a metal sleeve enclosing the spring, a conductor extending through one end of the :nrst sleeve and connected to the metal sleeve and the spring, said first sleeve having an opening in its other end in alignment with the spring for insertion of a conductor pin into the spring, said spring being adapted to be expanded by a pin of somewhat greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the spring when such a pin is inserted therein so as to grip the pin, the free end of the spring being turned outwardly, and means on the metal sleeve cooperating with said free end of the spring to limit turning movements of the free end of the spring in the sleeve.

HARVEY HUBBELL. JOSEPH F. HEALY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,007,443 Feuchter July 9, 1935 2,253,593 Warren 1 Aug. 26, 1941 1,657,253 Fortin Jan. 24, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 255,969 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1926 360,485 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1931 352,102 Great Britain July 9, 1931 

